He became involved in an argument with an acquaintance, a 24-year-old Pasadena man, and stabbed him in the upper torso with a small knife, the lieutenant said. Lopez then fled the scene.

“A driver for local tow service heard the broadcast on the police scanner and was in the immediate area,” Russ said. “(He) observed a suspect matching the description and kept him under observation until officers arrived.”

The wounded man was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, police said. After undergoing surgery, he was upgraded to guarded but stable condition.

On of the first officials on-scene, Officer Matthew Griffin, immediately applied pressure to the victims wound, “slowing the loss of blood and possibly saving the victim’s life,” Russ said.

According to sheriff’s booking records, Lopez was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.